2021 SPP/APR and State Determination Letters PART B – Nebraska

400 MARYLAND AVE. S.W., WASHINGTON DC 20202 - 2600 www.ed.gov The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. U NITE D STATE S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION O FFIC E OF SPECIA L EDUCATION AND REHABILITATI VE SERVICES June 24, 2021 Honora ble Dr. Matthe w L. Blomstedt Commissioner of Education Nebraska Department of Education 301 Centennial Mall Sout, P.O. Box 94987 Lincoln, Nebraska 68509 Dea r Commissioner Blomstedt: I am writing to advise you of the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department) 2021 determination under section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Department has determined that Nebraska mee ts the requirements and purposes of Part B of the IDEA . This determination is based on the totality of the State’s da ta and informa tion, including the Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2019 State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR), other State-reported data, and other publicly available information. With the FFY 2019 SPP/APR submission, the Office of Special Education Programs ( OSEP) requested that States and Entities report whether and how the data collection for any indicator was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, OSEP requested that States and Entities include in the narrative for each impacted indicator: (1) the impact on data completeness, validity, and/or reliability for the indicator; (2) an explanation of how COVID- 19 specifically impacted the State’s or Entity’s ability to collect and verify the data for the indicator; and (3) any steps the State or Entity took to mitigate the impact of COVID- 19 on the data collection and verification. OSEP appreciates States’ and Entities’ level of transparency regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the data reported in the FFY 2019 SPP/APR. When making deter mination decisions for 2021, OSEP considered all information submitted that related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For 2021 determinations, no State or Entity received a determination of “Needs Intervention” due solely to data impacted by COVID-19. Your State’s 20 21 determination is based on the d ata re flected in the State’s “20 21 Part B Results- Driven Accountability Matrix” (RDA Matrix). The RDA Matrix i s individualized for each State and consists of: (1) a Compliance Matrix that includes scoring on Compliance Indicators and other comp liance factors; (2) a Results Matrix that includes scoring on Results Elements ; (3) a Compliance Score and a Results Score ; Page 2 — Chief State School Officer (4) an RDA Percentage based on both the Compliance Score and the Results Score ; and (5) the State’s Determination. The RDA Matrix is further explained in a doc ument, entitled “How the Department Made Determinations under Section 616(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 2021: Part B” (HTDMD). OSEP is continuing to use both results data and compliance data in making determinations in 2021, as it did for Part B determinations in 2014-2020. (The specifics of the determination procedures and criteria are set forth in the HTDMD and reflected in the RDA Matrix for your State.) In making Part B determinations in 2021, OSEP continued to use results data related to: (1) the participation and performance of CWD on the most recently administered (school year 201 8 - 201 9 ) National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1 ; (2) t he percentage of CWD who graduated wi th a regular high school diploma; and (3) the percentage of CWD who drop ped out. You may access the results of OSEP’s review of your State’s SPP/APR and other relevant data by accessing the EMAPS SPP/APo reporting tool using your State - specific log - on inform ation at https://emaps.ed.gov/suiteL . When you access your State’s SPP/APR on the site, you will find I in Indicators 1 through 16, the OSEP Response to the indicator and any actions that the State is required to take. The actions that the State is required to take are in the “Required Actions” section of the indicator. It is important for you to review the Introduction to the SPP/APR, w hich may also include language in the “ OSEP o esponse ” and/or “ Required Actions ” sections . You will also find all of the following important documents saved as attachments: (1F the State’s RDA Matrix; (2F the HTDMD document; (3F a spreadsheet entitled “20 21 Data Ru bric Part B,” which shows how OSEP calculated the State’s “Timely and Accurate State - Reported Data” score in the Compliance Matrix; and (4F a document entitled “Dispute Resolution 201 9 - 2020 ,” which includes the IDEA section 618 data that OSEP used to calculate the State’s “Timely State Complaint Decisions” and “Timely Due Process Hearing Decisions” scores in the Compliance Matrix . As noted above, the State’s 20 21 determination is Meets Requirements. A State’s 20 21 RDA Determination is Meets Requirements if the RDA Percentage is at least 80%, unless the Department has imposed Specific Conditions on the State’s last three IDEA Part B grant awards 1 OSEP has used results data on the participation and performance of children with disabilities on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in making determinations for States (but not Entities) since 2014. Although the BIE is the only Entity t hat administers the NAEP, OSEP has not used NAEP data in making the BIE’s determinations because the BIE’s NAEP data were previously not available. However, given that the BIE’s NAEP data are now available, OSEP is considering using the NAEP data in making the BIE’s 2022 determination under IDEA section 616(d). Page 3— Chief State School Officer (for FFYs 201 8, 201 9, and 20 20 ), and those Speci fic Conditions are i n effect at the time of the 20 21 determination. St ates were required to submit Phase II I Year Five of the SSIP by April 1, 20 21 . OSEP appreciates the State’s ongoing work on its SSIP and its efforts to improve results for students with disabilities. We have carefully reviewed and responded to your submiss ion and will provide additional feedback in the upcoming weeks. Additionally, OSEP will continue to provide technical assistance to your State as it implement s the SSIP , which is due on February 1, 2022 . As a reminder, your State must report annually to the public, by posting on the State educational agency’s (SEA’s) website , the performance of each local educational agency (LEA) located in the State on the targets in the SPP/APR as soon as practicable, bu t no later than 120 days after the State’s submission of its FFY 201 9 SPP/APR. In addition, your State must: (1) review LEA performance against targets in the State’s SPP/APR; (2) determine if each LEA “meets the requirements” of Part B, or “needs assistance,” “needs intervention,” or “needs substantial intervention” in implementing Part B of the IDEA ; (3) take appropriate enforcement action; and (4) inform each LEA of its determination. Further, your State must make its SPP/APR available to the public by posting it on the SEA’s website . Within the upcoming weeks , OSEP will be finalizing a State Profile that: (1) includes the State’s determination letter and SPP/APR, OSEP attachments , and all State attachments that are accessible in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ; and (2) will be accessible to the public via the ed.gov website. OSEP appreciates the State’s efforts to improve results for children and youth with disa bilities and looks forward to working with your State over the next year as we continue our important work of improving the lives of children with disabilities and their families. Please contact your OSEP State Lead i f you have any questions, would like to discuss this further, or want to request technical assistance. Sincerely, David Cantrell, PhD Acting Director Office of Special Education Programs cc: State Director of Special Education